Category: Tracy’s Reviews

Highland Surrender by Heather McCollum

On By TracyIn Elizabethan Era (1558-1603), Part of a Series, Scottish/Highlander, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's Reviews, Tudor Era (1485-1603)Leave a comment

Highland Surrender (Sons of Sinclair, #5)Highland Surrender by Heather McCollum

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Sons of Sinclair, #5

Release Date: October 24, 2023

Erik Halverson, the leader of the lethal Wolf Warriors of Norway and three of his best men travel from Norway to carry out a mission for the Dowager Queen Sophie of Denmark-Norway. Queen Sophie is the mother of Scotland’s Queen Anne, and she believes that the Sinclair “Horsemen” are too powerful and will try to take the crown from King James and her daughter. She kidnaps Erik’s only living relative, his younger sister Iselin, and holds her at court with threats of marrying her to her chancellor until Erik abducts the Sinclairs’ sister, Hannah. She thinks that by taking Hannah, she will gain control of the Sinclair’s, thus saving her daughter. Erik is not happy with this plan, but he will do anything to save his sister. He travels to Girnigoe Castle and is relieved to learn none of the Sinclair brothers are in residence, he hopes to find and take Hannah before they return, but his hopes are dashed when he is unable to to learn which woman is Hannah and the youngest brother, Bas returns earlier than expected. But not one to give up, he figures out who she is, and when she seems bent on seduction, he uses that in his favor to steal her away. But things go downhill from there when stowaways in the form of Cait and Gideon’s daughters, Libby and Trix, a storm, traitors, and the burning attraction he feels for Hannah. How can he turn her over to Sophie, yet how can he not?

Hannah Sinclair wants a child, she is almost 30 and has no prospects for marriage, thanks to her overprotective brothers. So when she meets Erik, who is posing as a trader, she decides that he is perfect for her needs, since he will be gone by the time she learns if she is pregnant and her brothers will have no way to find and kill him. Unsure of how to seduce a man, she turns to her sisters-in-law, who are more than happy to instruct her. Things get a bit complicated when Bas returns early, but not even that is going to deter her, she lures Erik to the stables, and just as things start to heat up, he turns the tables on her and steals her away to his ship. At first, she is furious and bent on making him pay, but when they are blown off course and have to land in the Isles to make repairs, she learns the truth and knows that there is no way this doesn’t end in war. She knows her brothers will never back down and Erik makes it clear that he won’t either, so it is up to Hannah to find a way to save them all. But can she save her heart from breaking?

This was the final installment of the series and what an ending it is! I thought this was a great story, I loved Erik and Hannah, they had great chemistry, they have both suffered loss, and they both have a deep love for their families. They are perfect for each other, but the lies, secrets, and circumstances all mean that happily ever after is all but impossible. This book is filled with deadly highlanders, equally deadly Norse warriors, fearsome wives, mischievous little girls, laugh-out-loud moments, fan-yourself moments, nail-biting moments, and a heaping helping of heartache before our lovers find their HEA. This was a fantastic end to a wonderful series and definitely a must-read title. This book could be read as a standalone title, but I strongly recommend reading the series in order for the best reader experience.

4.5 stars, rounded up.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

Lessons in Love; A Witches’ Ball Novella by Renee Bernard

On By TracyIn Author Collaboration Series, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Historical Paranormal/Fantasy, Novella, Paranormal / Fantasy, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Lessons in Love: A Witches Ball NovellaLessons in Love: A Witches Ball Novella by Renee Bernard

Tracy’s rating: 3.5/4 of 5 stars

Series: The Witches’ Ball, #2

Release Date: August 26, 2023

Arianna Holt is the illegitimate orphaned granddaughter of the Marquis of Halleforte, and she has lived most of her life under the care of her beloved uncle Edmund, her father’s youngest brother. Arianna is sheltered and feels most comfortable in the woods, her uncle has tried to make her feel loved, but her grandfather despises her and demands that she keep her silver-white hair covered and her silver-lavender eyes hidden behind dark glasses. She is content with her life, but her uncle wants more for her, he wants her to marry and have a family of her own. He convinces his father and older brother to let Arianna accompany his other niece Lady Persephone to the Witches Ball in Bocka Morrow. Arianna agrees to go as long as her uncle agrees to stop trying to matchmake when she returns. Arianna sets out counting the days until she can return home to her solitude, but this trip will change Arianna’s life in ways that she didn’t even believe possible and suddenly the thought of living in solitude no longer holds any appeal.

Wren Willow is a Fairy or Fei, he is one of the few that crosses the Veil and interacts with humans in the Broken Realm, as the Fei call it. This time he has made the trip to stop Arianna from attending the Witches’ Ball because he knows something she doesn’t, Arianna is half Fei and has a power that many would love to manipulate. Wren’s only task is to stop her from going to the ball, but once he meets her, he is drawn to her and wants more time, he breaks many rules and tells Arianna the truth of her lineage and her powers. He breaks more rules when offers to teach her how to control her power, knowing full well there will be a price to pay. Their feelings deepen, but all too soon it is time for Wren to pay for his transgressions, leaving their future in question.

This was an interesting addition to the series, especially since they never actually made it to Bocka Morrow. But Arianna and Wren are wonderful characters and their story is both joyous and heartwrenching. The story is not quite what I was expecting, but it was still a very good, no steam, slow-burn romance filled with magic, great secondary characters, a few tears, a couple of toe-curling kisses, and the promise of happily ever after. This book is loosely connected to the Witches’ Ball series, but could easily be read as a standalone title.